Six Flags reopens with Sandy benefit concert

fromTheBeachBeat.com

Ne-Yo Six Flags Great Adventure will kick off its 2013 season on Saturday, March 23, with its opening weekend presented by Lowe’s. A superstorm Sandy benefit concert will take place, featuring Grammy Award-winning Motown Records artist Ne-Yo, with special appearances by MTV stars Vinny Guadagnino from “Jersey Shore” and Andrew Jenks.

The concert is the culmination of “Spring Fix,” an alternative spring break event sponsored by MTV, mtvU and United Way to help rebuild Jersey Shore communities devastated by superstorm Sandy.

The event is free with park admission, and a portion of the opening-day ticket sales will directly benefit United Way.

Vinny Guadagnino from “Jersey Shore” Visitors can also view the park’s four sea lions, Anoki, Dichali, Ella and Kenobi, in the “Fish Factor.”

Safari Kids Theater will host the return of zany Professor Slithers and his collection of talented critters in “Professor Slithers Travels the World.” Kids and kids-at-heart will enjoy the return of the “Six Flags Dance Party” and the Looney Tunes pals in an ’80s-themed musical called “We Got the Beat.”

Summer marks the return of the “Live & Local” music series, unique street entertainers, the nighttime “Block Party” and a new laser-and-fireworks show by awardwinning Pyrotecnico.

Following the merge of Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari, the 510-acre theme park is poised to debut the Safari Off Road Adventure during Memorial Day weekend. The new attraction will take explorers on an up-close animal experience. Guests will load open-air Safari vehicles to begin their adventure. The safari drivers will drive guests off-road and up close to the animals as they splash through ponds, climb hills, cross bridges and venture over rugged terrain.

The attraction will stop at the new Camp Aventura for an intimate look at smaller exotic animals and an opportunity to handfeed or pet some of them.

Guests can also fly through the air high above the animals on a new two-seater zip line for an additional fee. Safari Off Road Adventure will be included with general theme park admission and season passes, and will be accessible via the Frontier Adventures section of the theme park.

At the Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park, thrill-seekers will challenge a massive, new slide complex called Big Wave Racer. This six-lane, four-story slide tower will send riders barreling headfirst on water toboggans as they race each other to the finish line.